Daily Media Summary (08-30-2019)

BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA

NEWS SUMMARY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019

Today’s edition of our news summary highlight stories about REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR. George Manneh Weah, PRESIDENT OF THE REBUBLIC OF LIBERIA AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE TOKYO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR AFRICA DDEVELOPMENT (TICAD) YOKOHAMA, JAPAN on WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2019, Liberia and China signing of a Technical Coorporation Agreement to extend SKD Sports Complex Project and The National Elections Commission (NEC) declaring Abu Bana Kamara of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) as the winner of the by-election held in Montserrado County District #15.

DOMINANT STORIES

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR. George Manneh Weah PRESIDENT OF THE REBUBLIC OF LIBERIA AT THE OPENING SESSION OF THE TOKYO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR AFRICA DDEVELOPMENT (TICAD) YOKOHAMA, JAPAN WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2019

I bring you greetings from the People of Liberia.

Let me begin by extending sincere thanks and appreciate to His Excellency Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, and the Government and People of Janpan, for the warm hospitality accorded me and my delegation since our arrival in this beautiful county. It is my indeed my pleasure to be part of this unique gathering. Liberia is most honored to partake in this global forum, which is a manifestation of the excellent relationship existing between African nations and Japan. Liberia appreciates the ongoing development cooperation with Japan, and remains committed to further strengthening bilateral ties, for the benefit of both countries and people. Let me take this opportunity to express my appreciation for Japan’s contribution to Africa’s development through the TICAD process, and for Japan’s meaningful role in global peacekeeping, noted as an important factor in our development process. TICAD-7 provides yet another opportunity to compare notes with our fellow African leaders and our global development partners, from Japan and other parts of the world, on the common good of mankind, particularly the fate of the African people, pens the Hot Pepper.

The Governments of Liberia and the People’s Republic of China have signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement for the extension of Chinese assistance project at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville to include additional facilities. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the signing ceremony took place in Monrovia on Thursday, 29 August in the Conference Room of the Ministry on the 4th Floor. The new facilities to be added include the Electronic / Fire Control, Monitoring, and Sound Systems.Acting Foreign Minister Henry B. Fahnbulleh signed for the Government of Liberia while Chinese Ambassador to Liberia Fu Jijun signed for his Government, the New Dawn newspaper relates

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has declared Abu Bana Kamara of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) winner of the by-election held in Montserrado County District #15. Though the by-election was held on July 29, 2019, but the electoral commission could not announce the winner due to a complaint filed by candidate Telia Urey of the four opposition collaborating parties complaining of fraud. Following hearing into her complaint, the Hearing Panel at NEC ruled that a rerun be conducted in six precincts that were quarantined. But candidate Kamara, through his lawyers took exception to the ruling and filed an appeal to NEC Board of Commissioners. But the Hearing Panel’s ruling was upheld by the Board of Commissioners and announced for the rerun to be held Wednesday, August 28, 2019. Following the re-run, NEC announced that Kamara obtained a total of 8,678 votes constituting 49.2 percent, while his closest rival, Miss Urey received 6,868 votes, representing 38.9 percent, the New Dawn newspaper reads.

President George M. Weah has submitted a loan agreement between the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and the Government of Liberia for partial financing for Barclayville-Klowne-Sasstown road construction project for ratification. In a communication to the plenary of the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, President George Weah said the cost of the implementation of the Barclayville-Klowne-Sasstown road construction project is estimated at USD$92,564,010.00. President Weah said the amount of US$50 million is a loan from EBID which will be used to finance the resources of the Indian line of credit. He stated that the payment of the loan will cover a period of 25 years inclusive of a 5-year grace period starting from the date of the first disbursement in 40 equal and semi-annual installments.The Liberian leader said the first installment shall be payable on the 1st February or 1st August and whatever date comes immediately or after the end of the grace period, the News newspaper imply.

The Inquirerwrites, Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Hon. Samuel D. Tweah Jr., says the Public Financial Management program of the country is on the right path. Minister Tweah made the disclosure at the singing of the Financing Agreement of the Public Financial Management Reform for Institution Strengthening Project (PFMRISP), held Wednesday, August 28, 2019 between the Government of Liberia and the World Bank. The PFMRIS Project is financed through an International Development Association grant of US$19 million equivalent. The fie-year Project was formally approved by the World Bank Board on the July 16, 2019. According to the Agreement, the PFMRISP has five components, which include: Enhancing Domestic Resources Mobilization Sources and Systems, Stabilizing and Strengthening Financial Controls and Performance, as well as Improving Oversight and Public Sector Capacity. Other components of the Project are Improving Upstream and Downstream PFM Systems, and Project Management. Hon Tweah told the gathering that two effective conditions set forth in the Financing Agreement have been fulfilled by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.

Senate passes Power Theft Bill

Liberian Senate on Thursday, 29 August passed into law the Power Theft Bill based on recommendation by the Senate’s committee on Lands, Mines, Natural Resources and Environment to plenary. The committee recommends that passage of the bill into law for economic development of the country. The committee’s report says the 2015 Electricity Law didn’t criminalize power theft as a crime that sabotages the government. As such, the committee indicates that the Power Theft Bill is meant to repeal Chapter 6, Section 6.13 of the 2015 law of Liberia and to amend Chapter 15 of the Penal Law of Liberia by adding a new Section 15 .88, the New Dawnnewspaper imply.

LiNCSA Ends One Day Working Session With Employees

In a drive to ensure improve job performance at the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms (LinCSA) Thursday climax a one day intensive working session. The gathering which brought together high and low ranking officials of the commission was among other things aimed at addressing key indoor and outdoor activities of the Commission. According to the Chairman of the Commission T. Maxwell Grigsby, performance at various line ministries and agencies is key but will take time due to diverse reasons.He said lack of funding to enhance capacity growth as well as limited support is among few reasons for low performance but not with over time things will improve, the News newspaper write

FORUM SYD gives grants to CSOs in Bong

FORUM SYD Liberia has provided grants to nine Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in three counties here as a way of supporting government’s Pro-Poor Agenda through capacity building and contributing to under privileged Liberians, including women and youth. The grants were signed under the theme: Sustainable Ownership Program Liberia on August 23, 2019 in Gbarnga, Bong County. Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Program Manager of FORUM SYD Liberia Asa David Chon said the process is intended to buttress the efforts of CSOs in the Country, the New Dawn newspaper writes.

LAA, Atlanta discuss Sister Airport Agreement

The Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) Bishop Allan Klayee has met with authorities of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in America to discuss the LAA and Atlanta Airport Sister Airport Agreement signed in 2017.Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest and most efficient airport in the world. Roy Hadley and Aaron Watson of the AfriTrade Global also joined the team in the Sister Airport discussions.According to a dispatch, the timing to revisit the Sister Airport Agreement could not have been better as MD Klayee was pleased to inform the group that the Reconstruction of Runway (04-22) at Roberts Internationa Airport (ROB) was completed in May 2018 and the runway is now the best and safest runway in the region, the New Dawn newspaper write